Land of Outsiders

02/11/2026

Some people book a beach vacation in February.
Others hook up a team of dogs and drive 1,000 miles north to race 228 miles across the frozen Upper Peninsula.

This weekend is the UP200, Michigan’s legendary sled dog race, and mushers are rolling into Marquette from all over the country for a shot at one of the Midwest’s toughest winter challenges. Overnight runs. Subzero temps. Miles of dark, quiet trail. And a whole lot of trust between human and dog.

The UP200 is a reminder that winter here is not something to survive. It's something to lean into.

Read the story here:

The UP200 features 14 teams competing in the 228-mile Iditarod qualifier with nine-time champion Ryan Anderson and defending winner Martin Massicotte headlining.

01/26/2026

Cheers to the snow that sticks around just long enough to test your patience, summers that show off nonstop, and shoulder seasons that quietly steal the show.

From lake horizons to inland trails, city greenways to forested silence, this place keeps reminding us why we stick around. The landscapes change, the light shifts, and somehow it always feels like the right place to be, even when it’s cold and gray, and we’re pretending we don’t love it.

Here’s to 189 years of changing seasons, Great Lakes, open spaces, long trails, nearby parks, and showing up for this place in every version of the year!

01/16/2026

Michigan winter is back, and it’s not messing around this time. Cold temps and real snowfall are delivering the kind of season skiers, riders, and winter wanderers have been waiting for. Resorts opened on time, trails are busy, snowmobiles are moving, and cold-weather businesses are feeling the lift after a few mild winters. Turns out when winter actually shows up, so do the people!

Heavy snow and cool temperatures across the state in the last few months means winter sports in Michigan are thriving, despite some warm spells.

11/26/2025

As the season of gratitude rolls in, we’re taking a deep breath, sipping coffee, and looking back at a year that has been many things. Busy, fulfilling, chaotic in moments, humbling in others, and absolutely meaningful from start to finish. If that sounds familiar, you’re in good company.

Before (or after) the turkey, the travel, or the spirited Euchre hands, we hope you get a moment outdoors. A quiet walk through frosty, sunlit leaves, a pause in a nearby park, or even five minutes on the porch can be enough. Michigan’s landscapes have a way of reminding us what matters, even when life is moving fast.

If that idea resonates, we loved this reflection on the quiet courage of a Thanksgiving walk by our friend Jill Hinton Wolfe: https://outdoorbookclub.substack.com/p/the-quiet-courage-of-a-holiday-walk

Lastly, a friendly reminder that the best antidote to Black Friday chaos is opting outside. Even a short post-holiday walk counts.

Why I always start the hardest holidays outside

10/23/2025

The 2025 Michigan Outdoor Summit in a nutshell?

We saw just how powerful partnerships can be. When conservation crews, outdoor rec leaders, health champs, and outdoor businesses join forces, magic happens! We were reminded how vital it is to create welcoming spaces. Trails, parks, companies, and programs thrive when everyone feels like they belong.

Ideas were flying. Whether folks were chilling by the firepit, wandering through booths, or huddling before the next session, the vibe was all about swapping stories and sparking collabs that’ll live way beyond the Summit.

Everywhere you turned, there was passion, creativity, and drive. People opened up about wins, roadblocks, and big ideas. Best part? This was all fueled by a deep love for Michigan’s wild, wonderful outdoors.

Check out the Summit gallery here: https://michiganoutdoor.org/2025-summit

10/20/2025

Big shoutout to our opening and closing voices at the Summit!

You set the tone, closed it out strong, and gave us plenty to think (and laugh) about in between. Huge thanks to our opening panelists, Eoin Comerford (Outsize Consulting), Danielle Todd (Make Food Not Waste), Katie Cruickshank (Outside Magazine), and Rory Thibault (Land Conservancy of West Michigan), and our keynote speakers, Eoin Comerford, Ian Solomon (The Detroit Parks Coalition), and Dan Wanschura (Points North Podcast), for bringing the heart, honesty, and vision that define this event.

You reminded us what the outdoor community can do when we show up curious, connected, and ready to collaborate.

10/14/2025

The 2025 Michigan Outdoor Summit kicked off with The Boardman Review’s Fall Issue Release Party - our third year teaming up to celebrate community, conversation, and fresh storytelling to set the tone for the day ahead.

This year’s collaboration features stories from Summit participants Ian Solomon (The Detroit Parks Coalition), Amanda Westra (Chill Foundation), and Zachary Branigan (Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy), each capturing what the Summit is all about: narratives rooted in place, tradition, and forward-looking care for our landscapes, cultures, and futures.

Huge thanks to The Boardman Review for helping us start the Summit off right with connection, creativity, and that unmistakable Michigan outdoor energy!

Snag the Fall issue here: https://www.theboardmanreview.com/product-page/fall-issue-25